Bastard Nation advocates for the civil and human rights of adult citizens who were adopted as children. Millions are prohibited by law from accessing personal records that pertain to their historical, genetic and legal identities. Such records are held by their governments in secret and without accountability, due solely to the fact that they were adopted.
Bastard Nation campaigns for the restoration of their right to access their records. End a hidden legacy of shame, fear and venality.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Washington SUB HB 2211: Dead according to sponsor and Wa-Care

Washington SUB HB 2211 is reportedly dead. Last night, Wa-Care, promoters of the bill, announced on Facebook and in a post on its mail list that Rep.Tina Orwall, sponsor of the bill, had informed them that it had died in the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee. Not surprisingly, uber powerful Sen. Jim Hargrove wielded the coup de grace. I'm a little unclear what exactly happened since there was no hearing and the Washington Leg page doesn't indicate, but it looks like he decided to refuse the bill a hearing. Normally I would wait for an official announcement, but since the bill's sponsor has sent out the word, I'm passing it along.

We are not sorry that SUB HB 2211 is dead. The bill was restrictive, maintaining and expanding the current disclosure veto system. But we also knew from the beginning that as long as Sen. Hargrove was calling the shots that nothing would happen. Hargrove, in the Washington legislature for 28 years, has consistently and malignantly opposed all attempts, restrictive and non-restrictive, to free the state's adoptees from their chattel status. We did not expect a sudden change of heart.

We do not know what Hargrove's problem is, but as long as he is permitted to continue to reign in the Senate (formerly he was in the House), nothing will happen. Hargrove and the demise of this flawed bill should be an object lesson: no matter how far OBC advocates twist their bills and their integrity to please the opposition, the opposition will continue to ignore if not hate them.. You don't lose anything by pushing for full, unrestricted access. You, in fact, will gain respect. There is no shame in walking away when the bill turns rotten. Just don't contaminate the bill yourself.

Certainly Sen .Hargrove has enemies beyond adoptees and their families who would like to unseat him. While adoptees and their families in Washington are not politically powerful enough to do it, it's time to start talking to other people. And, of course, to push for the removal of the 1993 veto and full OBC access for all. .New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode island have all come back after the defeat of flawed, restrictive bills and won clean bills. Dont leave anyone behind.

We can thank Senator Jim Hargrove from Hoquium/Port Angeles for killing
our bill once again. This bill passed the House UNANIMOUSLY yet when it
goes to the Senate, it gets routed right back to where similar bills
have been routed time and again. You'd think because of the UNANIMOUS
support in the House, this guy would at least be required to hold a
hearing but nope, not the case.

FYI for voters in Hargrove's district: He's up for re-election this
year. Ya'll need to find someone to run against him for once because I
do believe 28 years is enough for this s.o.b.

Many of our legislators are holding town hall meetings this weekend.
Some are doing call-in type meetings, even this evening. Could only find
this short list of some Democrats meetings: http://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/townhall.html Check your local papers for when and where your legislators might be holding meetings.

PLEASE GO TO YOUR TOWN MEETING AND ASK HOW ONE PERSON CAN DERAIL
LEGISLATION JUST BECAUSE HE HAS SOME PERSONAL BIAS AGAINST THE ISSUE!

Thanks for your support once again. We will be back again next year.

-Wa-Care

In a few minutes I'll post the testimony that Bastard Nation intended to submit to the Human Services and Corrections Committee this weekend.